New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson publicly called her team’s 1-4 start unacceptable, naming head coach Kellen Moore and general manager Mickey Loomis in a pointed speech at the Greater New Orleans Quarterback Club luncheon.
“Before I reflect on our 60th season, I want to address where we stand,” Benson said, reading from prepared remarks. “We are 1-4, and that is not acceptable to me. And it falls short of what our fans truly deserve.”
“I will not make excuses”
Benson, who rarely criticizes the club in public, said the responsibility starts with her and laid out who is accountable for what.
“Kellen Moore and his coaches are responsible for preparing our players to perform,” she said. “Mickey Loomis and our football staff are responsible for building a roster capable of sustained success. Our players are responsible for their preparation and execution. And I am responsible for holding this organization accountable.”
She went further than a standard vote of confidence. “I will not make excuses, and I will not accept this level of performance as our standard,” Benson said. “I am committed to making the decisions necessary to improve this team. Everyone in this organization understands the urgency. We must prepare better, execute consistently and correct the mistakes that are costing us games.”
Ian Rapoport called the speech “pretty significant.”
Three straight home losses
The speech came two days after a 23-13 home loss to the Minnesota Vikings, the Saints’ third straight defeat. Benson pointed to the stretch directly, calling the loss to Atlanta in the franchise’s 60th anniversary game “truly disappointing” and noting that the team also lost on the day Drew Brees was inducted into its Ring of Honor.
“Words will not restore our fans’ confidence. Our performance must do that,” she said. “We cannot change the results of our first five games. We are responsible for what we do next. I expect better. Our fans deserve better.”
Moore is in his second season as head coach. Loomis has run the Saints’ football operation since 2002, and Benson has defended him publicly in the past.
Next: Giants, then Paris
The Saints visit the New York Giants on Sunday, then travel to France to face the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL’s first regular-season game in Paris. How Moore, Loomis and the roster respond in New Jersey will be the first real answer to the owner’s message.
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